Educators applaud Semiconductor move

Hemlock Public School District officials are hoping their neighbor's planned expansion will strengthen a partnership that has benefited them for years.

For as long as Hemlock Superintendent Rudy Godefroidt can remember, Hemlock Semiconductor Corp. and another Dow Corning Corp. subsidiary, Healthcare Industries Material Sites in Hemlock, have supported the 1,450-student district with their time and money.

"It's critical to maintain (partnerships with industry), especially when people are looking skeptically at education funding and finances are tight," Godefroidt said.

"It's not a great deal of money, but it allows us to do something we otherwise couldn't."

The companies have covered the cost for field trips and special events, bought books for students and sponsored the National Honor Society at Hemlock High and National Junior Honor Society at Hemlock Middle.

Hemlock Semiconductor also has hired three to 10 students per year to work as interns.
The expansion should jack up the tax base, but Godefroidt is more excited about the potential growth in student enrollment in Hemlock and nearby districts such as Freeland and Swan Valley.

"I'll be anxious to see this start," he said.

Higher ed reacts

The Saginaw News could not directly contact Saginaw Valley State University President Eric Gilbertson, but he also cheered the Semiconductor announcement.

"I can't imagine better news," he said in a statement. "This is great for our region and all of us who care about it."

Delta College President Jean Goodnow said the institution is "ready willing and able to assist in providing training" for future workers.

Semiconductor employs Delta Corporate Services to take new hires through a primer course.

"We've had an outstanding partnership and relationship with them," Goodnow said, "and we look forward to continuing that."